My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Phils win their fifth game in the row on the road, as
they defeat the Reds, 4-3. They regain first place from the
Mets.

Behind the pitching of their ace Cole Hamels, and the bullpen trio of Clay Condrey, Ryan Madson and closer Brad Lidge, the Phils were able to outlast the Reds, beating them 4-3. They regain sole control of first place in the National League East as the Mets once again fell to the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

The Phils took a quick 1-0 lead in the second inning as Ryan Howard hits a lead-off home run, his ninth home run of the year. The Reds tied it up at one-all in the fourth, as, with two men out, Jay Bruce hits a solo home run of his own, his twelfth home run of the season. The Phillies regain the lead in the fifth, as, with runners on the corners, and one man out, Jimmy Rollins hits an RBI double, knocking in Pedro Feliz, who had earlier doubled, and had gone to third on Phillies’ starter Cole Hamels’ single, making it a 2-1 Phils lead, while Hamels, who had just singled, moved over to third. Chase Utley made it a 3-1 Phils’ lead as he hits an RBI single, scoring Hamels, while sending Rollins to third. Raul Ibanez then followed him with a sacrifice fly, scoring Rollins, and giving the Phils a 4-1 lead. In the sixth, Jerry Hairston started the inning off by hitting a lead-off home run, his fourth home run of the year, cutting the Phils’ lead to 4-2. Three batters later, with a runner on third, and one man out, Ramon Hernandez hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Brandon Phillips, who had earlier tripled, making it a 4-3 Phils’ lead. That would be the final score as first Clay Condrey and then Ryan Madson would pitch a pair of scoreless innings, before Brad Lidge would nail down his eighth save of the season, and his third save in a row since blowing the save Friday night, by pitching a scoreless ninth.

Cole Hamels got the win, as he pitched six innings, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out seven. His record is now 2-2 with an ERA of 4.95. Clay Condrey recorded his second hold as he pitched a scoreless inning, giving up only a walk. Ryan Madson would record his seventh hold, as he also pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, as he struck out one. Brad Lidge would pitch a scoreless ninth while recording his eighth save of the season, giving up no runs on one hit and a walk, while striking out a batter. Johnny Cueto took the lost as he pitched seven innings, giving up seven runs on four hits, as he struck out four. Arthur Rhodes pitched a scoreless inning, giving up only a walk. Francisco Cordero pitched a 1-2-3 inning, striking out a batter.

The Phillies had seven hits in the ballgame, with Pedro Feliz leading the way with two hits, a single and a double. Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino and Cole Hamels had the other five hits, with Rollins’ hit being a double while Howard’s was a solo home run. Besides Howard, Rollins, Utley and Raul Ibanez had the other three RBIs, with Ibanez’s being a sacrifice fly. The Phillies have now won five straight games on the road trip, as they regain the lead in the National League East as the Mets lose once again to the Dodgers.

The Phils (21-16, 1st) continue their three-games series with the Reds (20-18, 4th National League Central) with a night game at Great American Ball Park. The game will begin at 7:10 pm Eastern. The Phils will send to the mound Jamie Moyer (3-3, 8.15), who is coming off a very bad outing against the Dodgers on May 13, where he went only four and a third innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out one, in the Phils’ 9-2 lost. He is still looking for his 250th career win, as well as his first quality start in about a month. The Reds will counter with Aaron Harang (3-4, 3.44), who is coming off a lost against the Padres on May 15, where he went six and a third innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and two walks, as he struck out six, in the Reds’ 5-3 lost. He will be trying to even his record. The Phils will be trying to make it a season high six wins in a row, while attempting to increase their lead over the Mets in the East.

I know, since the Dodgers spanked them again last night. The Phillies have one obstacle, though. They have to do it against the Bronx Bombers in their new playpen. I’m sure they’ll do it, since Park is no longer going to be allowed to stink up the place.

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